Kristin Shields Quiltmaker

The Wayward Jungle Crow

The Wayward Jungle Crow
2015
23 x 27
Hand dyed fabric and thread, commercial fabric, vintage linens, old wool shirt, machine pieced, hand appliqued, hand embroidered, hand and machine quilted.
Inspired by A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki.

I've posted lots of closeups so you can see the stitching.  My hand embroidery includes a lot of backstitching.  I did fly stitch on the tail.  

The bird includes and is surrounded by spirals.  The spirals represent the Pacific gyres that are talked about quite a bit in the book, plus they are fun to do!

The fabrics include several vintage linens, including the edge of a fine linen tablecloth (above) that was overdyed in indigo and walnut.  I laid the whole piece over the darker blue you can see below, and tacked the whole edge down.  I employed Jude Hill's invisible basting stitch quite a bit on this piece, so occasionally you'll see tiny stitches that show through.  On the right is the piece of a heavy linen table cloth that was overdyed in indigo.  I left the fringe hanging down.

The top piece is from an old Pendleton wool shirt gifted to me by a friend.  I machine quilted spirals and stars into it, then went over the stars with some embroidery thread and a backstitch to create the white star outlines.

The stars in the middle are created with liberated piecing.  I tried a lot of stitching here that I learned from Jude Hill.  The satin stitched points, satin stitched star and black and white star tails are all ideas from Jude.  

This piece was really fun to do.  I decided to bite the bullet and machine quilt it last weekend.  Good choice, actually, cause I had no idea I'd have the flu by Tuesday.  I've been very sick all week.  Both of the guys caught it too, so we've laid low all week and I haven't done any sewing at all.  I am resting a lot and trying to get healthy before I leave for QuiltCon on Wednesday.  I'm a whole lot better, but still get pretty tired.  I am glad this one is done though.  I have a few more finishes to show (small things), but don't know if I'll get to them before I leave.  In the meantime, I have started something for another challenge.  You can see photos of that in my Instagram feed.

If you are also traveling to QuiltCon say hello!  I will be Instagramming while I'm in Austin, but won't do blog posts until I get back.  I am taking my big camera though, so I hope to get some great photos to share!

November Stitches :: This Week

This has been a busy month (are there any that are not?).  Here's a sampling of what's going on this week.  I am taking a once a month wool club class with Tamra at the Stitchin' Post. It's based around Sue Spargo's Bird Dance pattern.  I already have plenty of wool and embellishments, so I started a new project!  Silly me.

I taught my own class: Whimsical Journal Covers on Wednesday. It was a small, but very fun class.  Above is my fox I stitched on as a demo.  Below is Jeannie's dog, my pattern inspired by Scrabble.  So cute!

Lindsey was excited to make a cover to fit a different sized journal. Isn't that pretty fabric!  I forgot to get a picture of the other student's journal, but she did a pieced strip version that was really pretty.My fox is done and when I get a chance I'll be finishing up all these other journal covers to put in the shop.

Above is the quilt that's been my nemesis lately.  I got really, really tired of putting together all those little squares.  I will love the final product, but not the process.  Below is the little project I nearly finished while avoiding the one above.  This one is created from demo pieces from my Portland guild Improv class.  I love it!  And, best of all I love the process too.  If I know one thing about myself, it's that I need variety!

Lastly, hand quilting has been my nightly project for several weeks.  I am making good progress on this one and will update when it's finished!  So, what are you stitching on this week?

My Weekend :: Journal Covers

Last week QuiltWorks put out a call for mini class ideas.  It took me a few days to come up with an idea, but I think these are so much fun and quick to do that they'll work perfectly.  These mini classes are intended to be small projects that can be done perhaps as holiday gifts.  

These three are made to fit a standard US composition book, which means they'd be perfect for any age of student, journaler or artist.  I started with a tutorial I found online, but made my own changes, such as adding interfacing so they are a little sturdier than they would be otherwise.  These three are made with an oatmeal colored cotton/linen blend as a base, then scraps of commercial and hand dyed fabrics are used for the applique.

I also had fun with the sketchbook approach. I love the sketchy black lines.  In the case of the horse and owl, I used actual sketches from my journals to make the designs.  The bird I drew out free hand and it's definitely more stylized.  I happen to really love the more quirky designs myself.

Also, I've been trying out writing words when I do my machine quilting on some projects and thought it would be fun to add here.  The secret is to go over your lines multiple times.  Once or twice just doesn't look as good in my opinion. 

I added pockets to one of the covers, but they all have a ribbon book marker.

This last one is done on a smaller journal and uses Osnaburg fabric for the base.  I've figured out how to measure and fit any size of journal.  It's also a less ambitious cover design which might appeal to some.  I'll let you know when the class gets scheduled.

Spooky Town (aka Halloween in July!)

I have been on a mission for the last several weeks to finish a whole lot of half finished projects that have filled the drawers so much I couldn't fit anything else in!  It's been interesting.  It feels a bit like an excavation and I am unearthing many things I forgot I had.  This piece was finished just to use up some of the massive bin of Halloween prints I've collected.  I had the one house on the left that was made in a class demo.  I decided to add two more and some words.  Spooky Town just came to me for no apparent reason, but I like it!  

I used up some leftover large triangles that were saved from another Halloween top that is now at the quilter's.  I used some in the sky over the houses and the rest were sewn together and cut up for the border of the Spooky Town block.  Determined to use up even the smallest pieces, I made a string border.

But that wasn't all!  I still had way too many scraps, so I made scrappy blocks and cut them with my 9.5 inch ruler to make the back.  This quilt is pretty heavy and with the pieced backing it was also a bit tricky to quilt.  I knew this would be a class sample and I can't afford to get everything professionally quilted, so I soldiered on and did a swirl pattern myself.  In the next few days I'll be posting more of what I've been doing the last couple of weeks.  I count at least 6 finishes, plus some other bindings.  I still have more WIP's, but it feels like progress has been made. I am finding it hard to concentrate on new work at the moment, so I want to wipe the slate clean over the summer and get back to business in the fall.

The best part about this quilt, was that after I finished hand sewing the binding, I took it back to my dark studio and discovered these eyes looking at me!  I had to laugh because I had no idea the fabric was glow in the dark.  Very cool, although I wish I'd used the eyes in the windows of the houses.

Fond Farewell: AAQI for July

Although I'm staying in Sisters for the week, I snuck home for a while today to upload photos, do paperwork, wash some clothes, etc.  Just the other day I got the email with the registration info for my last two AAQI quilts.  These are called "Who, Me?" and "Shy Kitty".  

The end of AAQI is bittersweet.  I really loved making these little quilts every month, even when the timing was a stretch.  There were a few months when I chose to buy a quilt instead of make one, thus fulfilling my Quilt-A-Month agreement.  I am happy I was able to participate and somewhat relieved that the monthly obligation will end.  I will have more time to make items for the shop and for class samples, challenges, and outrageous fun!  

These two had to be special, so there are a couple of my liberated kitties, with hand embroidered faces and hand quilting.  **Edited to add:  I learned to do the cats in a class with Jude HIll.  She considers them her own design.**

These were so much fun to make.  I already have other kitties in progress and some other animals as well.  When fall rolls around I'll be ready to start creating more small works for the shop and I hope these animals are popular.  **Edited to add:  Due to the above note, I will not be making any more kitties for sale.**

Tomorrow is the Wish Upon a Card reception at the Sisters Chamber of Commerce from 3:30-6:00.  I will be there in the first part of the time frame so I can head over to Jean Wells' reception which is at the same time.  I don't know if I mentioned it here before, but I won third place in the Michael Miller Fabric Challenge.  I look forward to seeing my fellow winners including my good friend Marion who won first place and Martha who got an honorable mention.  Fun times!  Saturday is approaching fast and I may not be able to post before then.  Please come say hi if you are in town!  I'll be at Ponderosa Properties on Hood St. from about 9am-4pm.  

2013 Fiber Arts Stroll

What a marvelous time we had!  Chloe came to help me with sales and that was a huge help.  I hung 5 of my completed quilts and some of the mini's I have for sale.  I think they were a big hit.

Chloe brought some of her own hand crafted items for sale so our table was a bit crowded.  Here she is just finishing up a sweet little narwhal stuffie.

Chloe's end of the table was filled with whimsical animals and fake food.  She loves to create in 3D and really has a talent for it.  My friend Jan stopped by just when I was taking photos.

This is the piece I worked on when time allowed.  I started it last year, but thought it was time to do some more work on it.  I used some of my handspun to show how I use it for couching.  Of the items I sold, cards with animals seemed to be a favorite, as well as the inspiration packs and the handspun skeins.  

I won't have time to list new items for a few weeks probably, but I have the shop up and running again.  I've also replenished some of the Inspiration Pack colorways that were unavailable for a while.  For locals and those visiting Sisters, I plan to have my sales items with me while I'm in Sisters for the week.  If you want to look at what I have just leave a comment or email me (or just flag me down!).  Thanks!

In the Night Garden

Well, finally, I got some photos of this quilt!  I've been waylaid by numerous things over the past couple of weeks, mostly good like graduation, some more concerning issues due to various medical complaints.  Things will be fine, but I've just not had the time or inclination to do any sewing.

When I first thought of this quilt I wanted to make some cats that would seem to glow on an indigo background.  I had some indigos and found new Japanese prints to round it out.  I think the end result meets the goal I originally had.  There are 9 cats with various facial expressions which were so much fun to do.  **Edited to add:  I learned to do the cats in a class with Jude HIll.  She considers them her own design.**

I knew that this was one quilt that I wanted to machine quilt myself.  My machine quilting skills are improving steadily, but I have trouble when a quilt gets to be too big.  This one worked fine.  It measures 41" x 52".

I decided to quilt an overall swirl in blue to blend in but have an organic, maybe celestial feel.  I left spaces where I could add in some flowers and other garden elements with a variegated orange thread.

I like the back too.  The main backing fabric is a cool batik I found recently and I added a strip of the border from the front for some interest.  

This week I had visits with an interviewer and photographer from the local paper.  Very exciting, but also nerve wracking.  The special publication will come out on June 28 and will be available for free all over Sisters.  The show is just about 1 month away and I still have some finishing things to do with a few of the quilts, plus some other projects that need attention.  More soon!

Cat Quilt Sneak Peek

The quilting on the Cat Quilt is finished!  I will be working on the binding tonight.  The quilt reveal will be soon.  **Edited to add:  I learned to do the cats in a class with Jude HIll.  She considers them her own design.**

This one makes me giggle!

**Edited to add:  I learned to do the cats in a class with Jude HIll.  She considers them her own design.**

More Kitty Faces

I've been swamped lately, but I really, really loved making these kitty faces.  So much so that I've made two more cats for my final AAQI quilts (for July) and one other one for a block for a friend.  I have ideas for more liberated animals, but no time to try them.  Right now, this quilt is still just basted.  Hopefully, some quilting will happen tomorrow.  

This one is my absolute favorite.  So open and happy, it just makes me smile!  **Edited to add:  I learned to do the cats in a class with Jude HIll.  She considers them her own design.**